2011 Toyota Avalon: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 106 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is steering (30% of complaints); the 2010 and 2012 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jan 2015
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The rear sun screen will get stuck in the up position . At night there is almost no visibility out of the back window. This is a very dangerous safety problem. Apparently Toyota has had a problem with this feature with no effort made to correct it.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2022
“Failure of the Sun shade in the rear causes a problem with visability. Stays stuck in up or down position. Creates a loud distracting grinding noise when in operation and highly reduces visibility through the rear window. Particularly when it is stuck in the half way position.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Jun 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota avalon. The contact stated while making a right or left turn, the steering column was loose. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he was able to readjusted the steering column however, experienced the failure within a few days. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,800.”Owner report · Steering · Jan 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
“Headlights flickering constantly and at times one or both will go completely off. Will have to manually turn off and then turn on again. Both will shine steady for about 2 minutes and then began to flicker again. This happens when parked or when in motion. This only applies to when the lights are on low beam. (this has been happening for a few months).”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2020
“I was using the lever to push the seat away from the steering wheel when one side stopped moving, causing the other side to derail. I took the car to jim hudson toyota immediately, and the technician was able to get seat back on track. However, he wasn't able to get the side moving, and stated the entire seat rail would have to be replaced. Furthermore, I was told I have a leak in the rod and pinion system because the inner seal needs to be replaced. Although, I service my vehicle regularly with fred anderson toyota, and nothing has ever been said about this.”Owner report · Steering · Nov 2020
“While driving, the steering column telescopic lever comes loose and the column depresses. It has happened several times while pulling up on the bottom of the steering wheel, during sharp turns for example, and the lever unlocks. Then as soon as you press on the steering wheel, perhaps some time later, the steering wheel goes completely into the dash. It is almost as if the steering wheel is falling away from me, and I have partially gone through two (thankfully empty) intersections because I lost control of the car because the steering column collapsed unexpectedly.”Owner report · Steering · Jul 2020
“The rear sunshade does not work and obstructs your view of the rear road. If you google it I'm not the only one with this complaint.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Jul 2020
“I raised my rear sunshade and couldn't lower it. It was during the day running errands and very difficult to see out the back window. I chose not to drive my car late evenings and night because of safety and visibility .I need my car 24/7, I paid for the shade to be lowered but it's inoperable. This summer I know I will need the sunshade.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Mar 2020
“Power steering fluid was seeping and then became a full leak that resulted in loss of all power steering fluid. Vehicle was examined, and toyota quoted a $1800 rack and pinion replacement. Mileage of failure is approximately 126k miles.”Owner report · Steering · Dec 2019
“The tilt/telescopic lever on the left side of the steering column stays in place via some type of friction tension. It regularly disengages by itself and allows the steering column/steering wheel to fall down or suddenly move inward. This can occur when the vehicle is in motion at both highway and slow speeds. It is dangerous as it can make it difficult to hang onto the steering wheel. A simple google search of this issue shows literally hundreds of complaints about this problem. It has happened to me perhaps more than 50 times since I've owned the vehicle.”Owner report · Steering · Nov 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 14 of these complaints and injuries in 6 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles manufactured February 9, 2010, to October 22, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the sub-woofer speaker located in the trunk may experience an intermittent electrical short which may cause damage to the integrated circuit (IC) in the audio amplifier. In some cases, the damaged IC may allow a constant electrical current flow to the sub-woofer.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the audio system amplifier and install a protective cover around the sub-woofer, free of charge. The recall began on July 1,2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2011 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Avalon by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Toyota Avalon reliable?
NHTSA has 106 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2011 Toyota Avalon. The most complained-about area is steering (30% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2011 Toyota Avalon problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 41,000 miles or less.
Does the 2011 Toyota Avalon have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning electrical system. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.